Tunnel Plate Heat Shield?
01-08-2019, 05:25 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Tunnel Plate Heat Shield?
I have been reading up on this. I see there are options from ceramic coating, to precut insulation to DIY solutions.
I just want to cut down a bit of the heat coming from my tunnel into the car. It is not a daily driver so I do not need the best thing available, just something to help with the heat.
I have seen that some of the DIY solution have an adhesive that isn't high temp rated and have fallen on the exhaust creating a fire hazard. I do not want this either, but think that the pricing on pre cut kits is a bit on the high side.
Anyone have a recommendation on a type of heat insulation that will hold up in this environment and not be overly expensive?
I just want to cut down a bit of the heat coming from my tunnel into the car. It is not a daily driver so I do not need the best thing available, just something to help with the heat.
I have seen that some of the DIY solution have an adhesive that isn't high temp rated and have fallen on the exhaust creating a fire hazard. I do not want this either, but think that the pricing on pre cut kits is a bit on the high side.
Anyone have a recommendation on a type of heat insulation that will hold up in this environment and not be overly expensive?
01-08-2019, 06:11 PM
#2
Thoroughly chapped
Member Since: Oct 2006
Location: If you're not angry, you're not paying attention
Posts: 20,355
Received 409 Likes
on
327 Posts
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
NCM Member '09
I don't have one yet, so no real review, but this is the very unit I intend to buy when the time comes.
The following users liked this post:
Yello95 (01-10-2019)
01-08-2019, 06:19 PM
#3
Team Owner
Member Since: May 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 24,998
Received 1,227 Likes
on
874 Posts
St. Jude Donor '11
The following users liked this post:
Sam Handwich (01-26-2019)
01-09-2019, 08:42 AM
#4
Administrator
Member Since: Mar 2001
Location: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
Posts: 342,882
Received 19,282 Likes
on
13,960 Posts
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-
'20-'21-'22-'23-'24
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
The Elite Engineerimg product is probably the best known.
01-09-2019, 09:48 AM
#5
Racer
Thread Starter
Thanks for the replies.
I'm thinking of buying DEI 050502 heat shield and putting this on the tunnel plate. Has anyone else done this? We're you happy with it or did you end up buying the larger plate with ceramic coating?
I'm thinking of buying DEI 050502 heat shield and putting this on the tunnel plate. Has anyone else done this? We're you happy with it or did you end up buying the larger plate with ceramic coating?
01-09-2019, 11:41 AM
#6
I don't have the 'elite' plate. I'm sure it's a great product. But if you drop the exhaust and remove the OE plate, I recommend you insulate the tunnel above and alongside the torque tube. The TT gets very hot since it connects the engine and tranny. It's well worth the extra effort. I did mine with inexpensive products .... as well as the tunnel around the exhaust. The heat reduction has been dramatic. 90% improvement. Just my $.02.
Last edited by jost6453; 01-10-2019 at 03:21 PM.
The following users liked this post:
Sam Handwich (01-26-2019)
01-09-2019, 01:42 PM
#7
The following users liked this post:
Yello95 (01-09-2019)
01-09-2019, 09:31 PM
#8
Le Mans Master
I don't have the 'elite' plate. I'm sure it's a great product. But if you drop the exhaust and remove the OE plate, I recommend you insulate the tunnel above and alongside the torque tube. The TT gets very hot since it connects the engine and tranny. It's well with the extra effort. I did mine with inexpensive products .... as well as the tunnel around the exhaust. The heat reduction has been dramatic. 90% improvement. Just my $.02.
The following users liked this post:
SG Lou (01-21-2019)
01-09-2019, 11:20 PM
#9
It's been years ago so I can't remember exactly what I used. But I know I applied a dynamat-like material to the tunnel first. Then I applied a foil-faced closed cell 1/4" foam (like you can get at Home Depot). Both have adhesive backing. I just cut them in strips .... maybe12" wide, snaked over the TT and applied to the tunnel. Easy to do. The whole project cost maybe $100.
Last edited by jost6453; 01-09-2019 at 11:23 PM.
The following users liked this post:
jrprich (01-10-2019)
The following users liked this post:
Yello95 (01-10-2019)
01-10-2019, 11:19 AM
#11
Team Owner
Member Since: May 2001
Location: Virginia
Posts: 24,998
Received 1,227 Likes
on
874 Posts
St. Jude Donor '11
I got an Elite Engineering thermal abs of steel tunnel plate years ago and it made a big difference in cabin temperature and body control....well worth the cost in my opinion...
The following users liked this post:
SG Lou (01-10-2019)
01-10-2019, 01:13 PM
#12
Instructor
Make sure you get the one with the thermal blanket. I added one of the plates without the thermal blanket and I still can't park my iphone in the console without it overheating. The plate did stiffen up the suspension a bit. I'm just sorry that I went cheap and did not add the blanket
01-10-2019, 01:17 PM
#13
Make sure you get the one with the thermal blanket. I added one of the plates without the thermal blanket and I still can't park my iphone in the console without it overheating. The plate did stiffen up the suspension a bit. I'm just sorry that I went cheap and did not add the blanket
The following users liked this post:
Yello95 (01-11-2019)
01-11-2019, 09:05 PM
#14
Safety Car
I've been thinking about adding this on my '04 Z06 track car.
How hard is it to remove the exhaust system on a 15 year old car with 35,000 miles?
How hard is it to remove the exhaust system on a 15 year old car with 35,000 miles?
Last edited by Keppler; 01-11-2019 at 10:32 PM.
01-12-2019, 08:12 AM
#16
Banned Scam/Spammer
Member Since: May 2007
Location: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Posts: 15,685
Received 1,319 Likes
on
788 Posts
I don't have the 'elite' plate. I'm sure it's a great product. But if you drop the exhaust and remove the OE plate, I recommend you insulate the tunnel above and alongside the torque tube. The TT gets very hot since it connects the engine and tranny. It's well worth the extra effort. I did mine with inexpensive products .... as well as the tunnel around the exhaust. The heat reduction has been dramatic. 90% improvement. Just my $.02.
it gets hot because there’s an exhaust 1” away that runs it’s entire length.
The following users liked this post:
SG Lou (01-21-2019)
01-12-2019, 09:41 AM
#17
Belive that if you want. So you are saying the exhaust radiates heat to the plate, and it radiates heat to the TT such that it reaches 150 degrees? Right. On the other hand, the front of the TT is mounted to a hot engine and the rear to the tranny. The TT is a perfect heat conduit. Try insulating just the underside of the plate and let us know how that works. That was my first attempt at heat reduction and results were disappointing. Crawl under the car after a spirited drive and place your hand on the TT just in front of the tranny. Let us know how long you can keep your hand there.
Last edited by jost6453; 01-12-2019 at 10:46 AM.
01-12-2019, 10:18 AM
#18
Banned Scam/Spammer
Member Since: May 2007
Location: Machineguns, because I don’t compromise
Posts: 15,685
Received 1,319 Likes
on
788 Posts
Belive that if you want. So you are saying the exhaust radiates heat to the plate, and it radiates heat to the TT such that it reaches 150 degrees? Right. On the other hand, the front of the TT is mounted to a hot engine and the rear to the tranny. The TT is a perfect heat conduit. Try insulating just the underside of the plate and let us know that works. That was my first attempt at heat reduction and results were disappointing. Crawl under the car after a spirited drive and place your hand on the TT just in front of the tranny. Let us know how long you can keep your hand there.
And I don’t need to “believe that if you want”... I’ve forgotten more about the inner workings of the c5 than you’ll ever know.
Here’s a picture from last night of the bearings I pressed on for my transmission.
Have you built your own engine, transmission, torque tube, and differential yourself?
The radiant heat in the tunnel is due to the exhaust that runs in the channel.
Believe whatever else you want.
The following users liked this post:
Yello95 (01-21-2019)
01-12-2019, 10:44 AM
#20
The elite engineering plate I have has the insulating material facing the exhaust
And I don’t need to “believe that if you want”... I’ve forgotten more about the inner workings of the c5 than you’ll ever know.
Here’s a picture from last night of the bearings I pressed on for my transmission.
Have you built your own engine, transmission, torque tube, and differential yourself?
The radiant heat in the tunnel is due to the exhaust that runs in the channel.
Believe whatever else you want.